In 1977, I moved from western Massachusetts to West Texas. I felt as though I needed to leave academia, leave "Mecca" ( the 5 college area of the Berkshires), and figure out how to "make it on my own" without the cushion of family and friends. I needed to grow up. It was as though I had moved to a foreign country. I cried every night for a month but something wonderful happened. I began to notice a different kind of beauty than I knew in New England. I saw a sky that stretched from horizon to horizon, tiny straw flowers blooming in parched earth, the Milky Way so close as though I could touch it, horned toads doing push ups in the sun. I learned to look and listen and be amazed at the everyday sacred.
Thank you for your words. I see your words and those of your sub stack sisters as soul work for today!
That’s what happens when people move from Europe to Australia. But you were doing it within the same country! Some places have a more subtle beauty, but it truly can be equally enchanting. We just need to learn to See. Thank you for sharing those memories. Sending heaps of hugs from far-off Australia. 🤗🤗🤗
Susan, when I first left Tasmania, after marrying, I cried every night as well. Every day, every moment - a flooding river of tears. And then I began, as you say, to notice things around me and slowly things improved. Maybe that was the beginning of me opening myself to enchantment...
I talked about Lockdown's effect on my writing on a podcast (Rock Paper Swords) last year. It was such a strange thing as I thought it would be a piece of cake to knock off a couple of books. I imagined myself sitting in Stephen Fry's writing purdah. Nope - didn't happen.
I always enjoy reading. Thank you for this tender reminder: “I’m of an age where the inevitable denouement is at the end of that tunnel there, and thus it becomes more important every day to find a little bit of enchantment and store it for future reference.”
I had to look up the word distrait, as I had never seen it before (except perhaps from you once before when I skipped over it.) Such an interesting observation about the book! I haven't read Enchantment, although I appreciate the premise. I wholeheartedly agree with your description of enchantment, and finding it where ever we are. I do remember a period of intense depression when it was really, really hard to find those moments. But I clung to the seeking out of some kind of beauty and joy every day as a marker that I hadn't yet lost it completely. Your posts always remind me of that and to centre myself and stop pinging around. thanks for that deep breath and moment of quiet contemplation.
Sabrina, that is nice to hear. Sometimes, I feel like a duck swimming on calm water, my little webbed feet paddling furiously beneath the surface, or as you say, pinging around (love that description). I admit to bouts of anxiety quite often which is why meditation, mindfulness and enchantment with life is so important.
Such a thoughtful and thought-provoking post, Prue - thank you.
I had no idea that in Australia voting is compulsory - that's brilliant! Voter apathy is such a thing over here - it's so frustrating. In our household we choose to vote by post so that we don't risk missing the opportunity if we're away at short notice and can't make it to the polling station at which we're registered to vote.
Fantastic words and pictures, as always. The felt Easter egg is adorable, and your agapanthus are spectacular! Have a fabulous weekend. 😘
My daughter worked for the Electoral Commission for awhile and said that some idiots waste their vote by attending the polling station and getting their names ticked off (thereby avoiding a fine) and then they draw obscene things on the ballot paper or write stupid things. All that when it would be so easy to vote.
Thanks for commenting, Rebecca - always good to chat...
I always feel as though there is hope in the world after reading one of your posts, Prue. I know what you mean about reading unsettling things last things at night as well - I embarked on a new-to-me series of essays I'd been waiting for (Judith Thurman) and the first one was so shockingly graphic that I too had to let it drop by the bedside! I may have to return to Rupert the Bear - and cookbooks -which are guaranteed not to encourage insomnia. Those upright, delicate flowers are so beautiful incidentally, what are they? They look like Allium family maybe? Such lush exotic things you have there. Also, randomly - and, perhaps this is shameful to admit, but my favourite go-to shoes are Tasmania's Blundstones. Not for weddings you understand, but when you have the post-pregnancy feet of a camel, as I do, they are the very BEST for everyday. Thank you for this post, Prue xo
Oh Rupert Bear sounds wonderful! What a great idea! I must do the same - beats news media hands down.
My upright flowers are just a creation - helped along by the most beautiful variegated threads made in Australia. But like alliums and other upright flowers they're rather handy to give height.
What an amazing thing that you love Blunnies! They are second nature here - husband wears them on the farm, grandson wears them on farm and on the weekends, and so forth. Unfortunately, my feet don't get on with them, so lucky you!
So much to be enchanted by in this world. As another rural resident, I too found the Lockdown to be a relief. Wandering around my little village walking my neighbour’s dog each afternoon was such a joy.
Thank you for the wonderful photos and that lovely little piece of music to wrap things up. Enjoy your busy weekend. Hugs dear Prue.
That Easter Egg! My goodness, so delicate and beautiful! I continue to admire your felt hearts as well and hope, someday, to have time to dedicate to a similar project.
This, though, is the meat of the matter: "Chuffed that we voted early (voting is compulsory in Australia) but not looking forward to the election results on Saturday evening because the Tasmanian electorate is constrained to the point of constipation. I say to the whingers, ‘You want things to change? Then vote the conservatives out. Have some courage and vision, people!’
Crossing things for you, and please please do the same come November for us!
Oh my gosh, I will be in knots for you in November. I think most of the western world will be as the ramifications are huge.
The results of yesterday are in and whilst the (conservative) Liberal government has succeeded to a point, their vote dropped by 11% + and the balance of power in government now rests with the Greens, and with Independents. So what I so hoped would happen has happened - the two major parties have been sent a clear message that they just don't cut the mustard anymore. The Liberals were so arrogant in their speech last night, that it's obvious they have not realised the state socked it to them because of lack of integrity, openness and the idea they can ride roughshod over a community with massive health, housing and education issues.
So good on you, Tassie. Lets keep the bastards honest!
"Have some courage and vision people!" I'd like to lob that placard at the Conservatives here in America. Their vision is confined to looking in the rearview mirror and living in the past.
And enchantment is something we need more of. We're surrounded by so much; from the tiniest things (cobwebs) to the largest (the sky overhead) if we'd only take time to notice. Yes, this kind of displacement is good!
Good morning Prue, I enjoyed reading your words this morning. Thank you so much for the beautiful photos, your gorgeous creations, and music. xx
Thank you, Julie. You're very welcome.
This one really resonated with me today. Thanks again. xx
In 1977, I moved from western Massachusetts to West Texas. I felt as though I needed to leave academia, leave "Mecca" ( the 5 college area of the Berkshires), and figure out how to "make it on my own" without the cushion of family and friends. I needed to grow up. It was as though I had moved to a foreign country. I cried every night for a month but something wonderful happened. I began to notice a different kind of beauty than I knew in New England. I saw a sky that stretched from horizon to horizon, tiny straw flowers blooming in parched earth, the Milky Way so close as though I could touch it, horned toads doing push ups in the sun. I learned to look and listen and be amazed at the everyday sacred.
Thank you for your words. I see your words and those of your sub stack sisters as soul work for today!
That’s what happens when people move from Europe to Australia. But you were doing it within the same country! Some places have a more subtle beauty, but it truly can be equally enchanting. We just need to learn to See. Thank you for sharing those memories. Sending heaps of hugs from far-off Australia. 🤗🤗🤗
Susan, when I first left Tasmania, after marrying, I cried every night as well. Every day, every moment - a flooding river of tears. And then I began, as you say, to notice things around me and slowly things improved. Maybe that was the beginning of me opening myself to enchantment...
Beautifully painted descriptions. Enjoy the busy weekend.
XXXX
Love reading your knots in the string. I also struggled to write during lock down. Especially at the beginning. But back onto it now.
I talked about Lockdown's effect on my writing on a podcast (Rock Paper Swords) last year. It was such a strange thing as I thought it would be a piece of cake to knock off a couple of books. I imagined myself sitting in Stephen Fry's writing purdah. Nope - didn't happen.
I always enjoy reading. Thank you for this tender reminder: “I’m of an age where the inevitable denouement is at the end of that tunnel there, and thus it becomes more important every day to find a little bit of enchantment and store it for future reference.”
Took my breath away. So true.
XXXX
I had to look up the word distrait, as I had never seen it before (except perhaps from you once before when I skipped over it.) Such an interesting observation about the book! I haven't read Enchantment, although I appreciate the premise. I wholeheartedly agree with your description of enchantment, and finding it where ever we are. I do remember a period of intense depression when it was really, really hard to find those moments. But I clung to the seeking out of some kind of beauty and joy every day as a marker that I hadn't yet lost it completely. Your posts always remind me of that and to centre myself and stop pinging around. thanks for that deep breath and moment of quiet contemplation.
Sabrina, that is nice to hear. Sometimes, I feel like a duck swimming on calm water, my little webbed feet paddling furiously beneath the surface, or as you say, pinging around (love that description). I admit to bouts of anxiety quite often which is why meditation, mindfulness and enchantment with life is so important.
Hi Prue, I think that's the challenge - finding enchantment wherever you. Nature seems to provide so many of them - if we take the time to notice.
Indeed it does, Janice and thankfully we're able to protect vast tranches of it for posterity!
Such a thoughtful and thought-provoking post, Prue - thank you.
I had no idea that in Australia voting is compulsory - that's brilliant! Voter apathy is such a thing over here - it's so frustrating. In our household we choose to vote by post so that we don't risk missing the opportunity if we're away at short notice and can't make it to the polling station at which we're registered to vote.
Fantastic words and pictures, as always. The felt Easter egg is adorable, and your agapanthus are spectacular! Have a fabulous weekend. 😘
My daughter worked for the Electoral Commission for awhile and said that some idiots waste their vote by attending the polling station and getting their names ticked off (thereby avoiding a fine) and then they draw obscene things on the ballot paper or write stupid things. All that when it would be so easy to vote.
Thanks for commenting, Rebecca - always good to chat...
Oh gosh, that's absolutely crazy - why do they waste their vote like that?! People make me so cross sometimes, Prue!!!
I always feel as though there is hope in the world after reading one of your posts, Prue. I know what you mean about reading unsettling things last things at night as well - I embarked on a new-to-me series of essays I'd been waiting for (Judith Thurman) and the first one was so shockingly graphic that I too had to let it drop by the bedside! I may have to return to Rupert the Bear - and cookbooks -which are guaranteed not to encourage insomnia. Those upright, delicate flowers are so beautiful incidentally, what are they? They look like Allium family maybe? Such lush exotic things you have there. Also, randomly - and, perhaps this is shameful to admit, but my favourite go-to shoes are Tasmania's Blundstones. Not for weddings you understand, but when you have the post-pregnancy feet of a camel, as I do, they are the very BEST for everyday. Thank you for this post, Prue xo
Oh Rupert Bear sounds wonderful! What a great idea! I must do the same - beats news media hands down.
My upright flowers are just a creation - helped along by the most beautiful variegated threads made in Australia. But like alliums and other upright flowers they're rather handy to give height.
What an amazing thing that you love Blunnies! They are second nature here - husband wears them on the farm, grandson wears them on farm and on the weekends, and so forth. Unfortunately, my feet don't get on with them, so lucky you!
XXXX
So much to be enchanted by in this world. As another rural resident, I too found the Lockdown to be a relief. Wandering around my little village walking my neighbour’s dog each afternoon was such a joy.
Thank you for the wonderful photos and that lovely little piece of music to wrap things up. Enjoy your busy weekend. Hugs dear Prue.
It's a pleasure, Beth. Thank you for commenting.
That Easter Egg! My goodness, so delicate and beautiful! I continue to admire your felt hearts as well and hope, someday, to have time to dedicate to a similar project.
This, though, is the meat of the matter: "Chuffed that we voted early (voting is compulsory in Australia) but not looking forward to the election results on Saturday evening because the Tasmanian electorate is constrained to the point of constipation. I say to the whingers, ‘You want things to change? Then vote the conservatives out. Have some courage and vision, people!’
Crossing things for you, and please please do the same come November for us!
Oh my gosh, I will be in knots for you in November. I think most of the western world will be as the ramifications are huge.
The results of yesterday are in and whilst the (conservative) Liberal government has succeeded to a point, their vote dropped by 11% + and the balance of power in government now rests with the Greens, and with Independents. So what I so hoped would happen has happened - the two major parties have been sent a clear message that they just don't cut the mustard anymore. The Liberals were so arrogant in their speech last night, that it's obvious they have not realised the state socked it to them because of lack of integrity, openness and the idea they can ride roughshod over a community with massive health, housing and education issues.
So good on you, Tassie. Lets keep the bastards honest!
A banner! A banner with your last words!
"Have some courage and vision people!" I'd like to lob that placard at the Conservatives here in America. Their vision is confined to looking in the rearview mirror and living in the past.
And enchantment is something we need more of. We're surrounded by so much; from the tiniest things (cobwebs) to the largest (the sky overhead) if we'd only take time to notice. Yes, this kind of displacement is good!
Thank you for the support, Ms. Writer.
And here's to November going the sensible way in the USA.
🤞🏼 🇺🇸 Thank you...our democracy depends on it.
Your words are a true gift, Prue—thank you for sharing how you find enchantment and wonder in the everydayness of life.
Thank you, Susan. That's a lovely thing to say.